Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1

by Krista Wayment

  Melatheen waved off his praise. "We were all right."

  "Your brothers arrived only a day after we did," Grahm continued.

  Grayson nodded. "We tried to organize a search party right away, but the flyer operators insisted on doing a fly–over first. They didn't even declare the flyer missing until yesterday."

  Penter growled and balled his hands into fists. "Darn mud–eating …" Grayson laid a hand on Penter's shoulder and looked pointedly at Lainey and Melatheen. Penter coughed. "…men."

  "They had you as witnesses to the crash and that wasn't enough?" Thane asked.

  "Politics, my boy, politics," Grahm said with a shake of his head.

  "Well, we're safe now," Lainey said. Her face beamed.

  "What about you?" Melatheen asked. "What happened to you?"

  Thane, Lainey, and Renick exchanged glances. "Oh, not much," Lainey answered. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  "There were the wolves," Thane commented.

  "And the waterfall," Renick added.

  "Oh, and I almost drowned!" Lainey said. At Melatheen's horrified look, she added quickly, "Thane saved me."

  "Sounds like an awful lot happened to you three," Penter said.

  Renick smiled to himself. "You could say that."

  Epilogue

  Renick sat on the floor of the stall, the sick dragon's head in his lap. He gently rubbed the soft scales under her chin. Her breath pulled in and out, rasping across her dry throat. Renick's uncle Loren handed him a waterskin. He put its tip between the teeth at the opening of the dragon's jaw and squeezed.

  The dragon tossed her head weakly. The water splashed onto Renick's lap and the hay that covered the floor. Renick put the waterskin down and began stroking her chin again.

  "It doesn't look good, does it?" Renick asked.

  His uncle's brow furrowed and he placed a hand on Renick's shoulder. "Melatheen will be here soon. She'll know what to do."

  Renick nodded, but he did not feel much confidence. The dragon—May was her name—had taken to Renick right away when he started his apprenticeship. In a few short months they had formed a tight bond. And now she lay in his lap, dying. Renick's eyes started to burn and he blinked rapidly to stave off the tears.

  "Loren?" a voice called from the stable entrance.

  Renick's uncle stood. "Over here, Melatheen."

  Footsteps approached and then Lainey's aunt came into view, her stern face more solemn than usual. "Hello, Renick," she said.

  The stall door opened and Melatheen entered. Lainey strolled in behind her. Her eyes were narrowed and the corner of her mouth pulled downward. "Are you okay?" Lainey asked as she knelt beside Renick.

  "May's the one that's sick." Renick's voice came out sounding rough and hoarse. He coughed to clear it.

  Lainey patted his shoulder. "It'll be okay."

  Renick watched Melatheen as she examined the sick dragon. The longer she worked, the deeper the frown on her face became. After what felt like days, she sat back and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her sleeve.

  "Well?" Uncle Loren asked.

  "I just don't know," Melatheen admitted. "It could be any number of things, each with a different course of treatment."

  "Can you make a guess?" Uncle Loren's hands tightened into fists. May belonged to a very rich client who happened to be away at the moment. If they lost her, it would not only devastate Renick, but ruin his uncle's reputation.

  Melatheen shook her head. "I dare not risk making things worse. Stay with her tonight; see if you can get her to drink. I'll come back in the morning. Maybe time will aid us."

  Uncle Loren nodded his head. "Renick, you stay here with May tonight. I'll send out blankets, food, and water. Come get me if there's any change."

  Renick nodded and returned his attention to May. Uncle Loren and Melatheen stood. "Thank you for coming, Melatheen."

  "Any time, Loren." Together, the two of them turned to leave. "Lainey," Melatheen called from the stable entrance.

  "Coming! Just a moment," Lainey responded. Renick looked up at her. "I'd offer to use healing magic, but …"

  Renick shrugged. "I know—others might see."

  "If only my magic were as discreet as Wrytha's." She smiled at him.

  "I wish I could talk to May," Renick lamented.

  Lainey's eyes turned soft and sad. "You know you can't. Remember what Derth said?"

  Renick shook his head. "I know. But I look in her eyes—all of their eyes—and I have to believe that somewhere inside they have the capacity. That they can talk."

  "Hoping for the impossible won't make it so."

  Renick turned away from her and hugged May's head closer to him.

  After a moment of silence, Lainey slipped away.

  Alone with May, Renick let himself feel the growing sorrow and fear. "If only you could speak," he whispered to May. "Then perhaps you could tell me what's wrong." Then, on a whim, he reached out to her like he did with Plyth. He searched for her voice, calling to her.

  Pain.

  A cold chill ran down Renick's back. The touch felt familiar, but not like it was from May. It was more sinister. The image of a black dragon surrounded by stone surfaced from his memory. "The mines," he whispered to himself.

  I will avenge her.

  There was an explosion and a chorus of screams pierced the night.

  The End

  About the Author

  Krista Wayment has been making up stories since she learned to talk. Writing naturally grew out of that. Krista is an avid Fantasy and Science Fiction fan, and a total nerd. She is also a software engineer and loves playing video games. Although, curling up with a good book is still one of her favorite past times.

  Learn more at www.kristawayment.com and dragonstrust.blogspot.com

  Acknowledgements

  It takes a village to write a book. I would like to thank my village for helping to bring this one to life. First and foremost, my husband who was always there to encourage me and gave me the push to self–publish. He was always there to tell me that I could do it, even when I believed I couldn’t. Secondly, to my mother who fostered and encourage my love of writing from a young age. And who loved this story from the first moment I told her about the idea.

  Next I must thank those who helped to shape this story into what it is today, starting from the beginning. Thanks to Laura D. Bastian, Melanie Skelton, and Holli Anderson for listening to my idea on the way back from the LDS Storymakers conference. A tip of the hat to my Alpha Readers: Krista McLaughlin, Christina Cook, and Terron James. Thanks for helping me to hash out so many details. And speaking of hashing out details, thanks to Lauren Ritz, Heidi Tighe, Anya Kimlin, Terrie Lynn Bittner, Gussie Fick, Laura Josephsen, and all my other iWriteNetwork friends. Also a shout out to my Facebook friends for coming to the rescue with important details and personal experiences that helped give this story that little something extra. Much thanks to my Beta Readers: Nanette O'Neal, Donea Weaver, and Meredith Mansfield for all your wonderful comments and suggestions. I must also mention my fellow Pied Piper critique group members who helped me improve my writing skills. And finally to my editors, Tristi Pinkston and her assistant Maria, for whipping this manuscript into shape.

  A final acknowledgment to you—the reader. We did this for you. I hope you enjoyed the story.